Iran Detains Iraqi-Kurdish Journalist and Crew While Covering Cultural Festival

December 10, 2025 – Iran/Iraq/Kurdistan – 

Iranian security forces have arrested an Iraqi-Kurdish reporter and several members of his media crew while they were covering a cultural festival in Iranian Kurdistan, marking the latest instance of press repression in the Islamic Republic and raising fresh concerns from press-freedom groups.

According to reports, the journalist — identified as Shawar “Shavo” Hama Rashid of Kurdish media outlet Rudaw — and his team were covering the Newroz cultural festival in the city of Sanandaj when they were approached by agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other security personnel. Officials detained the group on charges that remain unclear, though press advocates say such arrests frequently stem from broad accusations of “unauthorised reporting” or “violating national security laws.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) confirmed that Rashid’s camera operator and two local fixers were also taken into custody, and that family members have been unable to secure clear information about the reason for the arrests or the location where they are being held. CPJ warned that this pattern of detentions is indicative of a broader crackdown on independent and foreign-affiliated journalists working inside Iran.

Human-rights defenders point out that Iran has one of the highest numbers of journalists imprisoned globally, routinely using vaguely defined national-security statutes to silence voices it perceives as critical or threatening. Journalists have been detained for reporting on protests, corruption, and ethnic minority issues; Kurdish and other minority reporters are especially vulnerable, as they often cover cultural or political topics that authorities regard with suspicion.

The arrests drew immediate condemnation from international press-freedom organisations. CPJ called for the unconditional release of Rashid and his crew, emphasising that covering a cultural event should never constitute a criminal offence. The group also urged Iranian authorities to allow immediate access to legal representation for the detainees and to clarify the charges, stressing that transparency is essential for any legitimate legal process.

This incident comes against the backdrop of an already fraught environment for reporters in Iran, where dozens of journalists remain imprisoned and many more face legal threats, intimidation, and harassment. Observers warn that without stronger international pressure and legal protection for media workers, such arbitrary detentions will continue to undermine press freedom and discourage foreign coverage of important cultural and social events inside the country.

refernece – 

https://thenewregion.com/posts/3890

Iran detains Iraqi Kurdish reporter and crew covering cultural festival